Leipzig Interim

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The Leipzig Interim was a temporary settlement of 1548 in matters of religion, entered into by the Emperor Charles V with the Protestants.

The Augsburg Interim of 1548 met with strong opposition. In order to make it less objectionable, a modification was introduced by Melanchthon and other Protestant theologians, commissioned by Elector Maurice of Saxony. In a meeting held at Alt Zella in November, 1548, they explained in a Protestant sense what they considered essential points of doctrine, e.g. justification and others. They accepted the non-essentials or adiaphora, such as confirmation, Mass, the use of candles, vestments, holy days, etc.

The document then drawn up became known as the Interim of Zella, or the Small Interim. In the diet held at Leipzig in December, 1548, it was adopted by the estates of the Electorate of Saxony, and was then called the Interim of Leipzig, or the Great Interim.